{"id":9377,"date":"2023-05-19T06:28:59","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T06:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/?p=9377"},"modified":"2025-10-24T08:00:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T08:00:35","slug":"stroke-in-pregnant-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/neurology\/stroke-in-pregnant-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Stroke in Pregnant Women"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"toc\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong style=\"color: #c01c7b;\">Table of Content<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/heart-health\/stroke-in-pregnant-women#q1\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><strong><em>Conditions That Affect Women More Than Men and Result in Possible Stroke<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/heart-health\/stroke-in-pregnant-women#q2 target=\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><strong><em>Factors That Predispose Women Towards Stroke<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/heart-health\/stroke-in-pregnant-women#q3\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><strong><em>Focusing on Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/heart-health\/stroke-in-pregnant-women#q4\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><strong><em>Focusing on Venous Thrombosis<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/heart-health\/stroke-in-pregnant-women#q5\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><strong><em>Role of Oral Contraceptives<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/heart-health\/stroke-in-pregnant-women#q6\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><strong><em>Stroke Risk During Pregnancy Is Higher in Younger Women<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/heart-health\/stroke-in-pregnant-women#q7\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><strong><em>First Action in Stroke<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/heart-health\/stroke-in-pregnant-women#q8\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><strong><em>Prevent Stroke<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"caps\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Women are at a higher risk of stroke compared to men, especially during the child bearing age. Maternal and child care are very important to prevent stroke in women.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"q1\"><strong>Conditions That Affect Women More Than Men and Result in Possible Stroke<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart beats rapidly and irregularly; the upper chamber of the heart beats very fast. Little clots from there can be sent like a shower and can result in a cardio embolic stroke. This stroke is more common in women than men.<\/li>\n<li>Hypertension and atrial fibrillation, key risk factors for stroke, are more in women than men.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/heart-health\/atrial-fibrillation-and-embolic-strokes\/\">The effect of some risk factors for stroke \u2013 including atrial fibrillation<\/a> and diabetes mellitus\u2013 are stronger in women than men.<\/li>\n<li>Women while pregnant can develop a condition known as eclampsia or pre-eclampsia. This can cause stroke during pregnancy, bleeding in the brain when the BP shoots up and result in intra-cerebral hemorrhage. This intra-cerebral hemorrhage can result in maternal death. Therefore, pregnant women should be monitored carefully.<\/li>\n<li>Women who don\u2019t have access to education do not know about the aforementioned risk factors and do not get regular check-ups. Women should be encouraged to not miss their routine pregnancy check-ups.<\/li>\n<li>Regular check-ups during pregnancy will go a long way towards avoiding stroke in women. Routine measurement of blood pressure and routine measurement of albumin in urine can prevent complications in pregnancy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"q2\"><strong>Factors That Predispose Women Towards Stroke<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Cardiomyopathy &#8211; having a heart that is big in size<\/li>\n<li>Patent foramen ovale \u2013 hole in the heart<\/li>\n<li>Diabetes mellitus \u2013 having high sugar levels<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/family-and-general-medicine\/hypertension-the-silent-killer\/\">Hypertension \u2013 high BP<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy<\/li>\n<li>Tendency for pro-thrombotic states \u2013 disturbances in the clotting mechnism<\/li>\n<li>Cerbral Venous Sinus thrombosis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"also-read\">Also Read:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/news-events\/january-diabetes-and-pregnancy\">DIABETES AND PREGNANCY<\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"q3\"><strong>Focusing on Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There are maternal, paternal and placental risk factors that can trigger hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Maternal Risk Factors<\/li>\n<li>Genetic factors<\/li>\n<li>Young age (&lt;18 years of age)<\/li>\n<li>Old age (&gt;35 years of age)<\/li>\n<li>Multiparity<\/li>\n<li>Obesity<\/li>\n<li>High cholesterol or triglycerides level<\/li>\n<li>Physical inactivity<\/li>\n<li>Alcohol intake<\/li>\n<li>Paternal Risk Factors<\/li>\n<li>First pregnancy between father and mother<\/li>\n<li>The man previously fathered a pregnancy with pre-eclampsia<\/li>\n<li>Placental Triggers<\/li>\n<li>Placenta having less blood circulation, less oxygen (hypoxia) and invasion by abnormal cells (trophoblast invasion)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"q4\"><strong>Focusing on Venous Thrombosis<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>There is a complete venous system in the brain which can get blocked and cause a cerebral venous thrombosis. This condition can paralyze patients and can be fatal to women during their perinatal period (when the woman delivers and just after delivery).<\/li>\n<li>It can be caused by dehydration due to diarrhea or insufficient water intake. However, pregnancy by itself predisposes a patient towards cortical venous thrombosis.<\/li>\n<li>It can be diagnosed with an MRI.<\/li>\n<li>The newest cause for cerebral venous thrombosis is COVID-19 as has been found recently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"q5\"><strong>Role of Oral Contraceptives<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/neurology\/ischemic-stroke-what-is-it-causes-and-symptoms\/\">Oral contraceptives increase ischemic stroke risk<\/a>. So, they are not given to all women. They cause stroke by increasing blood pressure.<\/p>\n<p>Absolute contraindications for oral contraceptives (WHO Category IV) are given below:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Migraine with focal neurological symptoms<\/li>\n<li>During pregnancy and breastfeeding<\/li>\n<li>Severe hypertension<\/li>\n<li>Complicated valvular heart disease<\/li>\n<li>Diabetes with vascular complications<\/li>\n<li>Active liver disease<\/li>\n<li>After major surgeries<\/li>\n<li>Prolonged immobilization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"q6\"><strong>Stroke Risk During Pregnancy Is Higher in Younger Women<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It is important to identify risk factors of stroke during pregnancy and give prompt treatment.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pregnancy is known to increase risk of stroke<\/li>\n<li>Stroke during pregnancy is more in women under 35 years of age<\/li>\n<li>Above 35 years, the risk is the same as non-pregnant women<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For women who maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy and have no hypertension and diabetes, the chances of a healthy pregnancy are very high.<\/p>\n<div class=\"also-read\">Also Read:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/news-events\/march-dos-and-donts-in-pregnancy-before-during-and-after-2021\">Dos and Dont\u2019s in Pregnancy \u2013 Before, During and After<\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"q7\"><strong>First Action in Stroke<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Place the emergency call immediately.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You can also do the following while awaiting professional help:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check vital signs \u2013 breathing, pulse and consciousness<\/li>\n<li>Keep patient propped up as she may choke on saliva<\/li>\n<li>If the patient is unconscious, lay her flat and turn him to the side<\/li>\n<li>Make sure to loosen any tight clothing<\/li>\n<li>Make sure there is no crowding<\/li>\n<li>Reassure patient to stop him for panicking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"q8\"><strong>Prevent Stroke<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>While we are aware that a healthy lifestyle with BP and sugar levels under control will lessen stroke risk considerably, the following two points need special mention for stroke prevention:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reducing salt intake is crucial. Added salt is a real danger and can aggravate hypertension.<\/li>\n<li>With hypertension and diabetes, it is crucial to have a doctor consult at least once in 6 months or anytime a symptom is experienced.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The prevention and effective treatment of stroke are within our reach if we take the necessary measures and seek timely medical help. Leading a healthy lifestyle, maintaining regular check-ups, and staying vigilant about any health changes can greatly contribute to preventing a stroke. If there\u2019s a suspicion of stroke, immediate action is crucial. Having the support of the <strong>best heart doctors, whether in Salem, Trichy, Hosur, Tirunelveli or Chennai<\/strong>, at a cardiology hospital equipped with a <strong data-start=\"494\" data-end=\"672\" data-is-last-node=\"\">Stroke Center and a Fast Response Policy <\/strong>can make all the difference \u2014 because stroke can be prevented if we work towards it, and treated effectively if we seek help in time.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em><strong>Reviewed by Dr Suresh S Venkita, Group Medical Director, Kauvery Hospitals<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.<\/p>\n<p>Chennai \u2013 044 4000 6000 \u2022 Trichy \u2013 Cantonment \u2013 0431 4077777 \u2022 Trichy \u2013 Heartcity \u2013 0431 4077777 \u2022 Trichy \u2013 Tennur \u2013 0431 4022555 \u2022 Maa Kauvery Trichy \u2013 0431 4077777 \u2022 Kauvery Cancer Institute, Trichy \u2013 0431 4077777 \u2022 Hosur \u2013 04344 272727 \u2022 Salem \u2013 0427 2677777 \u2022 Tirunelveli &#8211; 0462 4006000 \u2022 Bengaluru &#8211; 080 6801 6801<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Content Conditions That Affect Women More Than Men and Result in Possible Stroke Factors That Predispose Women Towards Stroke Focusing on Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Focusing on Venous<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9378,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-neurology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9377"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12629,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9377\/revisions\/12629"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}